Paper end indicator for typewriters



Dec. 26, 1944. I G. PREZIOS 2,365,903

PAPER END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Aug. '7, 1941 Gill? epp e 7 Prez tbs o,

Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics PAPER END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRI'IEBS Giuseppe Prezioso, Yverdon, Switzerland, assignor to E. Paillard et Cie S. At, a. corporation of Switzerland Application August 7, 1941, Serial No. 405,876

In Switzerland February 6, 1941 6 Claims. (Cl.197s- -189) It has been found or, utility in typewriters to visible warning when the bottom end of the sheet provide some formjof device capable of giving an.

audible or a visible, signal, when the end of the sheet being fed around. they platen in the course of typewriting is about to. be reached, particularly in view of the ever increasing swiftness of typeriting work. Devices proposed heretofore to that fiect are not fully satisfactory because the signal thus. given is either only audible or only visible. Besides, such. known. devices have been s ecially adaptedtor being. fitted to existing type-' writers, which necessarily involves a large overall structure which is not convenient and does. not-properly fulfil its function because the re,- quirements often contradict. the normal features of the typewriter. Thus, for example, devices of this kind-have been proposed which require a being typewritten is about to be reached and the sheet inserting indicator are in the form of angularly displaceable members, advantageously of sectors, barrelsor drums loosely revoluble onthe -platen axle and bearing index scales showing shortening of the length of the platen or cyl nder.

Other devices. as proposed do not permit the platen'to be properly and freely manipulated by its two end operating knobs. Still other devices of this kind require additional handling when a new sheet is being inserted even when the signalling means is not utilised. Lastly it has been found in practice that it is absolutely necessary for. the platen to always remain free for rotational movements-so as notto hinder the typists work.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved device or mechanism for giving both an audible and a visible signal when the bottom end of the paper or other sheet being typewritten is about to be reached, this device being specially constructed for obviating the aforesaid disadvantages while acting at the same.v time as an indicator of the starting position-of! the platen and also of the, sheet inserted between the platen and. its adjacent rolls, said indi. cator indicating such position in a conspicuous way and being adjustable so as to match any ven length; of sheet so that wi h p pe sheets of; different sizes such for example as the con ventional foolscap, crown or demy sizes, imely" actuation of the signalling meansv is insured. when the bottom end of, the sheet is approached.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a W rnin and indicating device of this class wherein the adiustmentofthe sheet. insertin position indicator can bejreadily performed by a mere counter-clockwise rotation of the p t prior to. actual heet insertion and said n i ator bears marks connoting different conventional paper lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. warning and indicatingdevice of this class wherein both, the signalling means for giving a through apertures in the front wall of the tyepwriter housing so as to be clearly visible.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a warning and indicating device of this class, wherein proper inserting feed of the sheet be- .tween the platen and its companion rolls is facilitatedby a hand actuator, advantageously a crank loosely fitted on the stub axle of the one element. o a ar normally dri n b h p a en and. prov de with the mem ers which trip the signalling, means into operation, declutching means interp sed betwee sai a uat r and ear preventi ue nterference with the norm l rotation of the platen as. typ w ting pr ceeds.

..A further object of the invention is to pro vide a warning and, indicating device of this class, wherein the actuator stroke can be easily adjustedf by accurate setting means, advantaeously comprising an abutment associated with a micrometric screw and bearing a scale for co.- operation with an index line.

A further object of the invention is to pro.-

vide a warning and'indi at ns d v e of this class. wherein the operation of the members associated with the gear driven by the platen and tripping the signalling means cannot be disturbed by any motion imparted to the platen and said means are always reliably actuated at the proper position as preselected by the sheet inserting and platen start indicator. 7

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a warning and indicating device of this class made up of a small number of simple and rugged parts easy to make and to assemble and having sucha structure as to keep the platen planes are separated for the sake of clearness, assuming certain parts to be broken.

Figures 2 to 5 are fragmentary views showing constructional details.

As shown by Fig. 1, a pinion I rigidly mounted on the stub axle 2 of the platen or cylinder 3 is in mesh with a much larger toothed wheel or master gear 4 which freely revolves on an axle 45 mounted in a carrier 1 rigidly secured to the typewriter frame. The toothed wheel or master gear 4 carries the operating members adapted to trip the audible and visible signalling means into action. In the embodiment which is illustrated, such operating members are constituted by studs 5, 6 adapted to engage the actuating members of the signalling means. In order to permit rotation of the platen in both directions, said actuating members are adapted to be tripped for working the signalling means only when they are engaged in one direction-(the one corresponding to the feed of the sheet) by said studs but not in the opposite direction.

For this purpose, the actuating member for the signalling means which gives an audible warning of the proximate reach of the bottom end of the sheet comprises an arm 8 pivotedto a suitable part of the frame and connected to the hammer 9 of a bell I3 (Fig. 5). The arm 8 is provided with a tongue II and has pivoted thereto a lever I which is urged into contact with the tongue II by a spring I2.

The actuating member for the means giving a visual signal comprises a cranked, lever I4 loosely mounted on the platen axle 2 and having a tongue I (Fig. 4). A retracting spring I! urges the lever I4 to a position in which its tongue I5 is engaged with an arm I5a integral with a sector pivoted on the axle 2. This sector carries a barrel or drum I6 one portion of which is visible through an aperture in a housing I9 which encloses and protects the whole mechanism. The drum I6 is urged into the position of rest shown in the drawing by a tension spring 21. An abutment 21a firmly secured to the housing I9 determines this position of rest. A scale is engraved on the surface of the drum I6 for cooperation with an index line on the housing I9. The purpose of this scale is to indicate to the typist the amount of lower free marginal space which remains utilisable at the bottom end of the sheet after the audible signal has been given.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 which illustrate on a smaller scale the toothed wheel or master gear 4 and its studs 5, 6, the studs Iiv are at a lesser distance from the centre of the wheel or master gear 4 and have a greater length than the studs 5 arranged near the periphery of said wheel or master gear 4, whereby each of the studs 5, 6 actuates only the operating member related to it On the toothed wheel or master gear 4 is rigidly secured a cog wheel 2| which through a second cog wheel 23 actuates a third cog wheel 24 loosely mounted on the stub axle 2. The diameters of these wheels are such that the angular motions of the cog wheel 24 are exactly equal to those of the toothed wheel or master gear 4. The wheel 24 has fixed thereto a barrel or drum 25 which moves across an aperture in the housing I9 opposite an index line 26. On the surface of the drum 25 is engraved, painted or otherwise marked a scale showing the angular positions to which it should be set (in accordance with the length of the sheet) before the sheet is inserted between the platen and its companion rolls, so that the audible signal will be given when the remaining space at the bottom of the sheet corresponds with the greatest margin indexed on the drum I6 for giving a visible signal. Therefore the drum 25 is an indicator of the starting positions of the platen for varying sizes of sheets such for example as the conventional foolscap, crown or demy sizes.

Between the toothed wheel or master gear 4 and the cog wheel 2| is interposed a ratchet wheel 28. A sector 29 and a crank 39 are freely pivoted on the end of the axle 45 which carries the toothed wheel or master gear 4. The crank 30 is positioned externally of the housing I9 and 'actuates the sector 29 by means of a pin 3I provided upon the latter and received in a slot 32 in the crank hub.

The sector 29 is urged to a position of rest by a spring 33 (as shown in the drawing). A pawl 35 pivoted to the sector 29 has teeth 36 which come into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28 under the action of a spring 31. The position of rest of the sector 29 is deter mined by a bracket abutment 39 secured to the inner wall of the housing I9 and upon which rests the horn-shaped end 38 of the pawl 35. Wheel 28.

An upward extension or nose M of the pawl 35 limits the rocking movement of the sector 29 when it is driven by the crank 30 by coming into contact with an adjustable abutment 40.

side wall of the housing I9. The abutment 40 can slide through a slot in the top wall of the housing I9 along a stationary scale 44. The up-' per face of the abutment 49 has engraved thereon an index line 43. From the scale 44 may thus be read off the value of the upper marginal space of a sheet which is attained when the sheet is brought into a typing position by rotation of the crank 30 until the nose M of the pawl 35 engages the abutment 49.

The operation of the device is as follows:

First, if it is desired that the first line to be typed on a sheet shall be spaced a definite distance downward from the top of the sheet, the index line 43 on the abutment 49 1s registered with the index of the scale 44 which corresponds with the value of the upper marginal or caption space that it is desired to obtain. As the adjustment of the abutment 49 is performed by operating the micrometric screw 42 by means of its knurled knob' 42a, the possibility is afforded of very accurately adjusting the position of said abutment and of selecting said upper marginal space so that the first line to be typewritten may, fOr example, be properly positioned relative to a date line of a letter or report. Next, depending upon the length of the sheet to be used, the platen 3 is rotated counter-clockwise until the index on the drum 25 corresponding to the length of sheet to be used is brought into register with the index line 26.

The gear ratio between the toothed wheel or master gear 4 and the cog wheel 24 being equal to I, said wheel 24 revolves much more slowly than the platen 3. Actually the revolution of the drum25 is exactly the same as the toothed wheel or master gear 4 and its angular motion therefore corresponds with that of the operating studs 5, 6. Consequently the indicator drum 25 makes it possible to readily bring the platen angularly The latter is then held clear of the ratchet speaking to such a starting position that the audible signalling means shall be e-fiicaciously actuated exactly at the time when the lower marginal space corresponds to the greatest. margin as indexed on. the 1| 6 of the means for giving a visible signal and from that exact time said drum 16 .shall. be so actuated as to indicate, as the platen moves, the lower marginal space which is still available.

Uponv completion of these two adjustments, the sheet is slid along the paper shelf (not shown) so as to bring the upper edge of this sheet into engagement with the rearwardly located gripping rolls. It is then only necessary to rotate the crank 30 COUILtEI'eClOEkWiSG againstthe action of the spring. 33 until the nose 4] comes into contact with the abutment '0 for bringing, the sheet to the position. selected for beginning to typewritef At the outset of this motion, the horn 38- on the pawl 35 snaps off the abutment 3:9, whereupon its teeth 36 are urged .by the spring '3] into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel 28. As the latter is connected to the toothed wheel or master gear 4, the motion of the crank 36 is transmitted to said toothed wheel or master gear d and also to the platen 3, which engages'the sheet resting upon the paper shelf. When the pawl nose 4] contacts the abutment 4 0, the sheet therefore occupies the desired position and is ready for typewriting. Upon release of the handle 30 the spring 33 returns the sector or segment .29 and the pawl 35 to normal position there-by causing the arm 38 of said pawl to engage with the abutment 39 against the tension of the spring 31 thereby lifting ratchet teeth 3'3 so that they will be in a position to properly engage with the ratchet gear 28 on the next forward movement of the handle 30.

The platen '3 is then moved either by means of its operative knob or by the line space lever of usual construction (not shown). When the lower varying size of the sheets: that may be used can he easilyhand rapidly adjusted owing to the in-' toothed Wheel or master gear 4 having a relatively large diameter, so that the platen motion which :is necessary for properly rolling through a sheet having the longest length to .be found in commercial practice should not cause an angular displacement exceeding half a. revolution of the posed. studs 5, 6.

margin-a1 space which is still available will only i represent for example 3 (corresponding to the largest lower margin as indexed on the drum It) the means 8 to I 3 for giving an audible signal will be operated, and the stud 5 carried by the toothed wheel or master gear 4 will come into engagement with the lever M of the means for giving a visible signal. Following this, a portion of the warning drum It (Which may be for example painted red) will show through an aperture in the housing Hi.

This will give a permanent and gradual warning of the reduction of the lower marginal space on the sheet, as set out say in inch fractions or in millimeters by the index scale engraved on said drum [6 opposite the mark line 20.

It will "be seen that as the toothed wheel or master gear 4 exactly follows all the motionsoi the platen 3, the latter can be conveniently turned clockwise or counter-clockwise without any risk of the signalling means being disturbed in their operation.

Moreover, the large reducing ratio between the pinion and the toothed wheel or master gear 4 permits the first line to be typewritten to be brought down a substantial distance from the upper edge of the sheet merely by imparting to the crank 30 a relatively small angular motion.

Another advantage is that no stationary abutment hinders the motions of the typewriter platen. This is imperatively required because nothing is more unpleasant in a typewriter than a. platen which becomes jammed in the course of typewritin'g. Still another advantage is that the starting positions for the platen to match the toothed wheel or master gear 4. It thus becomes possible to "provide two pairs of diametrically op- As vairesult .of this, the operating members tor the means giving the audible and. visible signals respectively can be simply ofi" set by arrangement makes it possible toiprovide the means for giving the visible signal adjacent the front side :of the typewriter and the means for giving the audible signal adjacent its rear side.

Obviously the studs 25 might be situated on a diameter difiierent' from the :one on which the studs 36: are located; it would only be necessary for that purpose to correspondingly locate the actuators for the signalling means.

32f several of studs '5 and 5 are to be used, the gear ratio between the toothed. wheel. or master gear 4 and the cog wheel 24 may be different from 1:1. It should not, however, exceed thennmber of stud pairs provided on said toothed wheel.

it is advantageous, generally speaking, to provide between toothed wheel or master gear 6 and the cog wheel 24 such. a gear ratio that an angular motion of said wheel t corresponding with the setting angle of the several studs 5, 6 should cause a rotation of one revolution or a fraction of one revolution of the indicator drum 25:. It thus becomes possible to repeat on the periphery of the indicator drum 25 the scale which. indicates the starting positions of the platen as many times as the number of sectors comprised said drum corresponding, with an angular motion of. the toothed wheel or master gear '4 equal to the angular setting of the studs. In order that the visual indicating means should be clearly visible, it is preferable that the aperture in the housing is should be provided in the :front face of said housing approximately level with the line on which typewriting takes place. i The constructional details 'of the above-described device or mechanism might vary of course without departing from the scope of the train connecting starting indicator with the master gear whereby said starting indicator and master gear more in step by step relation,

manually opera-ted for initially moving said "platen and master gear through a part of" their respective cycles and also correspondingly move said starting indicator through said gear train, a sheet end indicator, and means on the master gear for actuating said sheet end indicator as the sheet approaches the end of'its travel over the platen.

2. In a typewriter, the combination including, a platen and a platen shaft mounted for rotatable sheet feeding movement, a sheet starting in dicator drum, a pinion connected with the platen, a master gear meshing with said pinion, reduction gearing between said starting indicator drum and said master gear to move the same in step by step relation, crank actuated clutch means for moving said master gear through a portion of its cycle, a sheet end indicator, and means on the master gear for operating said sheet end indicator as the platen moves the master gear under line spacing incident to typing the full sheet.

3. A sheet indicator device for typewriting machines for initially moving the sheet to selected typing position and subsequently indicating the approach of the end of the sheet, comprising, in combination, a platen, a platen shaft, a pinion fixed to said shaft, a sheet end indicator, a master gear meshing with said pinion and having a pin thereon for actuating said sheet end indicator, a sheet starting indicator drum geared to the master gear and adapted to be set at starting position upon rotating the platen counterclockwise, and crank controlled clutch means for initially moving the master gear andstarting indicator drum.

4. In a typewriter, the combination including, a platen and a platen shaft mounted for rotatable paper feeding movement, a casing including top and end walls, a sheet starting indicator drum, a pinion fixed on the shaft of the platen, a master gear meshing with said pinion, a gear train connecting said starting indicator with the master gear whereby said starting indicator and master gear move in step by step relation, means for initially moving said platen and master gear through a portion of their respective cycles and also correspondingly move said starting-position indicator drum, said means comprising a pair of abutments located on the top and end walls of the casing, said abutment on the top wall being adjustable, a clutch device including a sector and a ratchet wheel mounted coaxially with the master gear, a lever pivoted to thesector and having means intermediate its ends for engaging said ratchet wheel while its ends are adapted alternately to engage said abutments, and a crank operatively connected with said sector whereby movement of said crank in one direction will cause the clutch means to engage the ratchet to move the master gear through a portion of its cycle and in turn move the pinion and platen sufficiently to cause the platen to draw the sheet to the position of the first line to be typed and at the same time register sheet travel on the starting-position drum, a sheet end indicator, and means on the master gear for actuating said sheet end indicator to connote the approach of the end of the sheet, said platen, master gear and starting-position indicator drum being returned to starting position by rotation of the platen after the sheet has been removed.

5. An indicator device for typewritingmachines for indicating the approach of the end of the sheet around the platen, comprising, in combination, a platen roller, a platen shaft for manual and mechanical operation, a casing secured to the frame of the machine and having a pair of spaced windows each provided with gauge marks on an edge thereof, a sheet end indicator segment loosely mounted on the shaft behind one of said windows and having scale marks for cooperation with the gauge marks thereon, a sheet starting indicator drum also loosely mounted on the shaft behind the other of said windows and having scale marks thereon for cooperation with the gauge marks thereon, a pinion rigid on the shaft, a master gear supported for rotary movement in I the casing and meshing with said pinion, means on said gear for actuating said sheet end indicator segment for a part of its cycle of movement, a reduction gear train for moving said drum in step with the master gear, a ratchet wheel in coaxial fixed relation to the master gear, a segment loosely mounted on a shaft coaxial with the ratchet gear and normally spring tensioned toward inoperative position, an adjustable abutment on the top wall of the casing, a fixed abutment on the rear wall of the casing, a ratchet lever pivoted to the segment and having teeth intermediate its ends and a nose at one end adapted for engagin said adjustable abutment and also having a nose at the other end for normally engaging said fixed abutment, a spring between the lever and the segment for biasing the lever toward the fixed abutment thereby to maintain the teeth of said lever out of engagement with the ratchet gear, a crank mounted coaxially with the ratchet gear and coupled with the segment, said crank when moved against the spring effort imposed on the segment moving said ratchet lever away from the fixed abutment to cause the teeth of said lever to engage and move the ratchet wheel and also move the master gear through an arc until the front nose of the lever engages said adjustable abutment to effect movement of the drum to indicate starting position.

6. In a typewriter including a platen and a platen shaft mounted for rotatable paper feeding movement, a casing having a window provided at one edge with an index mark, means for indicating the approach of the end of the sheet around the platen including a sector behind said window and having visible scale' marks thereon adapted to register with-said index mark, said sector including a body loosely journalled on the platen shaft, an abutment within the casing, an arm extending from the body of the sector, a. spring connecting said arm to the casing thereby to rotate said sector to normal position against said abutment, a two armed latch lever mounted on the shaft co-axially with the body of the sector and having a laterally offset tongue on one arm held against an edge of'the sector body by a spring connecting the other arm with said upwardly extending arm on the body of the sector, a pinion fast on the platen shaft, a relatively large gear supported for free rotary movement on the inside of the casing and meshing with said pinion, and a pin projecting from the side of the gear adapted to engage the end of said arm of said latch lever having the tongue to impart angular'movement to the sector as the pinion on the platen shaft moves said gear through the latter part of its cycle.

GIUSEPPE PREZIOSO. 

